This was speculated to be the season the NBA’s Japanese Convention grew up and joined the massive leagues. The East has basically operated like basketball’s junior varsity from the second Michael Jordan completed pushing off Bryon Russell, however the strikes made this summer season indicated that the convention was lastly about to get critical.
The Boston Celtics had been the clear-cut Greatest Staff in Basketball coming off a dominant championship run and returning nearly each participant of their rotation. The New York Knicks wagered their future to enhance their current, swinging huge trades for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Cities in an try to enter the championship image. The Philadelphia 76ers appeared to place the precise items round Joel Embiid with the free agent signing of Paul George and the ascent of Tyrese Maxey. The Milwaukee Bucks made their huge swings a 12 months earlier, however the second season of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s pairing with Damian Lillard promised higher outcomes now with a full 12 months below head coach Doc Rivers.
The center class of the East appeared higher, too. The Indiana Pacers had been coming off a convention finals run led by a younger star in Tyrese Haliburton, the Orlando Magic lastly added some capturing round their younger cornerstones Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and the Cleveland Cavaliers made a wise teaching rent whereas re-signing Donovan Mitchell.
The East appeared prefer it was going to be extremely aggressive this season, even perhaps moreso than the West. Simply two weeks into the season, that concept already appears like a giant miss.
The East has been a catastrophe to begin the 2024-25 season. Solely two groups (the Celtics and Cavs) within the convention are above .500 after two weeks. 9 of the top-11 groups within the league by report reside within the West. In head-to-head matchups, the East has misplaced 70 % of its video games to the West thus far.
It’s in all probability going to get higher for the East this season with 70+ video games remaining on the schedule. Somebody has to win when an Japanese Convention staff performs an Japanese Convention staff. The extra urgent difficulty is that each one of many East’s supposed contenders outdoors of Boston and Cleveland are developing approach in need of assembly the hype.
The Bucks and Sixers at the moment personal two of the three worst information within the NBA. Milwaukee has no depth, a horrible protection, and the Antetokounmpo/Lillard pairing simply isn’t practically as harmful because it ought to have been. The Bucks really feel like a staff with no strikes left to make. Giannis commerce rumors shall be one of many largest storylines within the league till both he or Lillard is dealt. The Sixers’ drawback is extra apparent however simply as scary: Embiid hasn’t performed this season due to an injured left knee, and Philly can’t win with out him. Embiid is 30 years outdated and has been suffering from again and knee accidents since he entered the league. The Sixers are doing their greatest to ensure he’s wholesome for when the video games really matter within the playoffs, however it’s going to be exhausting for Philly simply to get there if he isn’t again taking part in at an All-NBA stage quickly.
The Magic’s season feels doomed with Banchero out indefinitely. Haliburton has regressed for the Pacers and neutered their high-octane offense. The Knicks are in all probability going to be superb ultimately, however newly constructed groups usually take a 12 months to seek out their stride. The Knicks appear to suit that invoice as a result of they very a lot appear like a piece in progress in the mean time.
Proper now, the No. 3 seed within the convention standings is the Brooklyn Nets, a staff everybody thought would win like 20 video games as they chased their Cooper Flagg goals. For pretty much as good because the Celtics and Cavs look, there are quite a lot of Japanese Convention playoff spots that have to be crammed by groups who’re barely even competing.
The underside half of the East playoff image certain looks as if it’s going to be bleak this 12 months. Simply discovering two groups on the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds to fill out the play-in match goes to be tough as extra franchises prioritize their lottery place in misplaced seasons.
Why is the East at all times a lot worse than the West? For one, that’s the place the celebrities land: Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and Stephen Curry have now given method to Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Victor Wembanyama. There are additionally quite a lot of actually dangerous homeowners within the East. Jerry Reinsdorf runs the Chicago Bulls like a small market staff. James Dolan has by no means been capable of get out of his personal approach with the Knicks. The Nets’ huge plan to pair Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden instantly went bust. The Raptors’ entrance workplace misplaced its magic contact after the 2019 title run, and the Pistons, Hornets, and Wizards appear eternally hopeless.
The East appeared higher on paper this 12 months, however as an alternative the convention’s doom spiral has continued in full power. As has been the case for 25 years at this level, the perfect basketball continues to be being performed within the West.
